Answer this question truthfully
### Question: What causes Deafness?
### Response: Conductive hearing loss (CHL) occurs because of a mechanical problem in the outer or middle ear.
The three tiny bones of the ear (ossicles) may not conduct sound properly. Or, the eardrum may not vibrate in response to sound.
Causes of conductive hearing loss can often be treated. They include:
Buildup of wax in the ear canal Damage to the very small bones (ossicles) that are right behind the eardrum Fluid that stays in the ear after an ear infection Foreign object that is stuck in the ear canal Hole in the eardrum Scar on the eardrum from repeat infections
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) occurs when the tiny hair cells (nerve endings) that detect sound in the ear are injured, diseased, do not work correctly, or have died. This type of hearing loss often cannot be reversed.
Sensorineural hearing loss is commonly caused by:
Acoustic neuroma Age-related hearing loss Childhood infections, such as meningitis, mumps, scarlet fever, and measles Meniere's disease Regular exposure to loud noises (such as from work or recreation) Use of certain medicines
Hearing loss may be present at birth (congenital) and can be due to:
Birth defects that cause changes in the ear structures Genetic conditions (more than 400 are known) Infections the mother passes to her baby in the womb (such as toxoplasmosis, rubella, or herpes)
The ear can also be injured by:
Pressure differences between the inside and outside of the eardrum, often from scuba diving Skull fractures (can damage the structures or nerves of the ear) Trauma from explosions, fireworks, gunfire, rock concerts, and earphones